Mechanism for operating railway-switches



(Nd Mbdel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. 0, WILLIAMS,

MECHANISM P011 OPERATING RAILWAYSWITOHES. No. 251,983. Patented Jan.'3,1-882.

WI T JV ESSES 1N V'EJV T013 %Q Charles, (3. William, 5 6L By his Aftorneys %M./-%%/A;W M

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- O. C. WILLIAMS.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES.

No. 251,983. I Patented Jan. 3,1882,

, %27 Charles C. Williams, By his ltlurueyx ZM/Qt Wv/ g w M 775% ,switchesthrongh or by way of tread-bars or UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. WILLIAMS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

, MECHANISM FOR OPERATING RAILWAY-SWITCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of-Letters Patent No. 251,983, dated January 3, 1882.

Application filed August 30, 1881. (N0 model.)

-of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Operating Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to improvements in railway-switches oft-he class in which theswitches, if open or improperly adjusted, are actuated or closed by the passage of the engines along the rails as they approach the switches; and my invention especially pertains to improvements in that type of such class of automaticallyactuated switches in which rollers mounted on the engines are caused to act upon the levers at the. sides of or between the track.

My improvements consist in a novel organization ofparts and in certain combinations of devices, hereinafter designated by the claims, whereby the switches, if open, may with certainty be closed or set by an attachment to the en gine-passing along the rails. The organizathe rails of tion is such that the switch may be operated by the attendants or trackmen independently of the passage of an engine over the road,and

is also such that the roller on the engine successively acts upon the tread-bars to unlock and then set the switch.

The accompanying drawings show a suitable embodiment of devices for carrying out my invention as applied to the main line, or so as to be operated by engines passing along the main line only. Obviously the sidings or rails of branch tracks may be fitted with mechanism so that switches may be actuated from them as well as from the main line.

Figure 1 is a plan or top view. Fig. 2is a transverse section on the lines22 of Figs. 1 and '6. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig.4, showing a portion of the engine and the roller thereof as about to act upon the tread-bars. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5

is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, on the limb 5 of Fig. 6; and Fig.. 6, a View, partly in elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section, on the line 6 6 Fig. 5.

The rails A A and A A of the main line and the rails B Bof the siding, branch line, or turn-out are suitably constructed and arranged relatively to each other and to the switch proper 5 5 or movable section of track composed of the rails (t a. The rails of this switch-section of the track are pivoted or suitably jointed at or near the points I) b, or so as to be capable of adjustment in line either with the main rails A A and A A or with main rails A A and siding-rails B B.

Two sets of pivoted treadbars or long levers with inclined or cammed surfaces are mounted in pairs, G D, G D, between the main rails at either side of the switch. The two inclined surfaced levers of each pairare pivoted independently, or so asto vibrate vertically without the one interferipg with or affecting the other. The levers-G O, 1 term unlocking or releasing levers, and the levers D D throwing or setting levers, a releasing and a setting lever constituting a pair, as above indicated.

The releasing-levcrsG 0 project farther from 7 5 the switch at their ends most remote therefrom than do the'setting-levcrs at their corresponding ends. At their ends nearest the switch the levers of each pair are jointed to a cross-tie or other support between the rails.

In this instance a single pivot, b, serves to joint the levers G D tolugs secured to a crosstie, and the pair of tread-bars G D are similarly jointed to a tie by a common pivoaf. The switch-unlocking levers are thus made longer than the throwing-levers.

The cams or inclines c c of the releasing-levers G U extend farther beyond or more remote from the switch than do theinclines d cl of the settinglevers or treadbars D D. The in- 0 clines c c are respectivelylocated near to and so as to partially lap or extend along by the sides of the'respective inclines d cl of the levers D D, for a purpose hereinafter to be ex plained. i i l The outer or free ends of the levers O C have jointed connection respectively with the cranks of rock-shafts E. Links e e serve to loar, or to hold it up to said bar.

flexibly connect the levers and the cranks F of the outer ends of these rock-shafts. The rockshafts E are suitably housed and mounted in bearings beneath and at the side of the track, and at their inner ends are provided with crauksf, which have connection by rods G G with an adjustable detent or switch locking and releasingdevice, presently to be described, located at the side of the track close to the switch, as usual.

The switch-setting tread'bars D D at their outer ends are linked to cranks/z ot' rock-shafts H, similar to those, E, abovedeseribed. (Jonnecting-rods I I are pivoted at their outer ends to cranks 1? of the rock-shafts H, and their opposite ends have connection with an endwise-moving operating-rod or throw-bar, J, of the switch. The connecting-rods G G and I I are covered or protected by a housing, Gr G The drawings show one only of each of the above-ret'erred-to pairs of rook-shafts E, links 6 e, cranks F andf, rock-shafts H, and cranks h and 'i; but as the omitted parts are exact duplicates of those shown, illustration of both sets of devices is unnecessary to a full understanding of my improvements.

The mechanism for locking, releasing, and setting the switch, and with which the rods G G I I connect as in this instance shown is as follows: a

The detent with which the rods G G connect consists of a cross-head or horizontally- .sliding plate, K, reciprocating. in suitable 35 guideways,j j, and provided with two notches, k, for engagement with a lug or tooth,j, on the throw-bar J, which slides endwise in guides or bearings J J. The sliding detent K is connected by a perforated stirrup or yoke, l, with the rod G. This connecting-rod is passed through the perforation in the yoke, and its withdrawal is prevented by a cross pin or nut. A spiral spring, L, is coiled around the rod G between the yoke and a perforated support or guiding-lug, l, through which the rod passes near the' yoke of the detent. This spring bears at its opposite ends against the lug and detent-yoke, and acts always with a tendency to move the detent inward or toward the throw- The connection between the rod G and the detent K is made byarock-shaft,M, provided with a crank, m, to which the connecting-rod is pivoted, and also having a crank or wiper, m bearing against the yoke of the detent. The rock-shaft M projects through the side of and is supported at one end in the housing or protecting-casing N of the switch-controlling mechanism, and at its opposite end is mounted in a bearing-post, a, secured to the base of the housing. A lever, M, preferably a foot-lever or treadle, is fastened tothe end of the rockshaft M outside of the housing, so that'a person may unlock the switch by the action of his foot and throw or set it by a hand'lever, as farther on explained.

The rods I I, which connect with the setting tread-bars D D, are respectively connected at their inner ends by pivots with the respective ends of a horizontal arm or cross-bar, O, projecting in opposite directions from an upright shaft, 0. This shaft, by its movements and connections, serves to operate the switch throw-bar. It is supported at its lower end in the base of the housing N, and is sustained above said housing, so that it may be turned about a vertical axis by a bearing in a plate, 0 supported by legs resting on the bottom of the housing. A lever, N, is secured to the vertical shaft above and close to its upper bearing. This hand-lever N and the foot-lever M are so arranged relatively to each other that a person may advantageously operate the switch-releasing devices with his foot and im:

mediately after throw the switch by the hand,

lever without having to lose time by changing his position orgrasping first one and then another lever.

The shaft 0 carries a curved or segmental rack, P, near its lower end, which rack engages with a rack-bar orseries of teeth,.p, arranged upon the side of the throw-bar J contiguous to the segmental rack.

It will readily be understood that the throw- .bar of the switch may be adjusted by the turning of the shaft 0, whether the detent K be operated by foot or by hand or automatically by an engine on the track, as presently to be described, so as to withdraw the'notch k or k from engagement with the ing of the throw bar.

A verticallyadjustable roller, Q, with a broad tread or bearingsurface, is mounted up- 011 or close to the pilot or cow-catcher of an engine. The roller is supported by a shaft mounted at its ends in lugs at the lower end of a sliding frame or cross-head, It, reeiprocated vertically in guideways q g by a lever, S, and suitable connections. Theleveris preferably placed under the control of the engineer by suitable and obvious devices.

As shown, the lever S is provided with a spring-detent, s, to engage with one or other ofthe notches in a rack, T, according to whether the roller is adjusted in its lowermost and operative position or in its elevated position, so as to be out of action.

A connecting-rod, S, isjointed atits opposite ends with the controlling-lever and with one end of a bell-crank or elbow lever, t, on a rockshaft, 1", supported in suitable bearings. The

opposite end of the elbow-lever is jointed to a post or arm, 1", of the roller-supporting crosshead, It.

With the treadbar-actuating roller Q adjusted and lockedin its operative position, it will be seen that when the engine comes to the tread-barO (or to the tread-bar C, if approaching the switch from the opposite direction) the roller first depresses the switch-unlocking tread-bar. This tread-bar, through its connections with the throw-bar detent, releases the switch. Before the roller leaves the incline of the releasing tread-bar it passes upon the incline of the switchsetting tread-bar, and by. depressing this bar operates the switch-adjusting devices through the connections between the tread-bar and throw-bar ofthe switch. The

inclines oftheswitch-releasing levers or tread- .bars must be long enough and project sutficiently far beyond the inolinesot' the switchthrowing levers to give ample time for fully releasing or unlocking the switch before the action of the roller upon the incline of a throwing-lever. Theseinclines are also made quite gradual and of amplelength to gradually op.

erate the switch, so as to avoid a too quick action or violent strain upon the mechanism. The switch, having been set for the passage of the engine or train over the main line, is left undisturbed by the travel over the pair of tread-bars at the opposite side of the switch, as both of the switch-sett-in g trcad'bars are locked in their depressed position by the action of the spring of the detent K, and the depression of a releasing tread-bar has no effect upon the switch.

I do not'broadly claimthe combination of a switch and controlling mechanism thereof actuated by connections with yielding tread-bars or pivoted levers which are operated byrollers or other attachments of carsor engines in their passage along the track, as I am aware that various combinations of devices have been devised-for this purpose. Neither do I wish to be understood as confining my invention strictly to details of construction or precise arrangements of parts in all respects as illustrated in the drawings and herein before specifically described, as parts embodied in my improvements may be modified in various ways wlthout departure from my invention, and essential and co-operating features less than the whole organization of parts may advantageously be used under some circumstances.

As obvious modifications of my improvements may be mentioned the-jointing of both connecting-rods G G with the rock-shaft M, instead of connecting oneof the rods with the detent K, the substitution for the spring L around one of these rods of an independently and suitablymounted spring acting on the detent, or the employment of a weight to perform the function of the spring, and the treadbars, instead of being placed in the middles of the tracks, may be arranged closer. to or at either side of either rail of a track, as may be deemed preferable, the tread-bar -actuating rollers being properly adjusted to suit such' changes in the positions of the tread-bars.

I claim as of my own invention- 1. The combination of the main-line rails, the switch, the releasing-lever pivoted at its end nextthe switch, the setting-lever close to the releasing-lever and correspondingly pivoted, the inclines of said levers arranged with the incline of the releasing-lever extending at its outer end farther from the switchthan does "the corresponding end of the incline of the setting-lever, and with the inner end of thesetting-lever incline extending nearer to the switch than does thecorrespomling end of the releasinglever incline, the rock shafts to which the said levers are connected, and the switch locking, releasing, and setting mechanism, with which mechanism said rock-shafts are connected, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the rails, the switch,

setting'bar, and with the setting-bar incline extending nearer the switch than does the re leasing-bar incline, substantially as and for the purpose hereinhet'ore set forth. I

3. The combination of the switch-releasing tread-bars O O, the switeh-setting tread-bars D D, their pivots 12 f, the inclines c c, d 01, arranged relatively to each other and to the switch as described, the rock-shafts E H, and the rods connecting said rock-shafts with the locking, releasing, and setting devices by the side of the switch,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

4. The combination of the switch throw-bar, the turning shaft 0, the rack thereon, the rack-bar on the throw-bar,

actuated by the rock-shaft, and the spring acting on the detent, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination, substantially as herein-- before set forth, of the switch, the throw-bar, the upright shaft, the gearing connecting said shaft and the throw-bar, the hand-lever secured to said shaft, the spring-detent engagin g with the throw-bar, the rock-shaft operating the detent, and the treadle or foot-lever secured to the rock-shaft, for the purpose described.

6. The combination of the switch-releasing tread-bars, the rock-shafts E,.connected with said tread-bars, the switeh-settin g tread-bars, the rock-shafts H, with which they are connected, the switch throw bar, the upright shaft geared therewith, the rods connecting said upright shaft with the rock -shafts H,

actuated by the switch-settin g bars, the springdetent engaging with the throw-bar, the rock- -shaft M, connected with the detent, and the rods connecting said rock-shaft and detent with the rock-shafts E, actuated by the switchreleasing tread-bars, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

7. The combination of the single broad tread-roller Q, mounted upon the engine, and

the tread-bars arranged in two sets or pairs the rock-shaft M, the detent engaging with the throw-bar and and located between the main rails each of said pairs GOllSistlllg ot' a switch-releasing and a switch-setting tread-bar, pivoted at their ends next the switch and provided with inclines, the inner end of the releasing treadbar incline and the outer end ot the setting tread-bar incline being arranged side by sideand close together, and the opposite ends of said inclines projecting respeetiveh away from CHARLES C. WILLIAlVIS.

Witnesses:

JAMES F. HOFFMAN, ALLEN MILLER. 

